Joyfully Reviewedhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net
Joyfully ReviewedTue, 31 Mar 2015 08:57:19 +0000en-UShourly1Happy Release Day! BROKEN by Cynthia Edenhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/blog/happy-release-day-broken-by-cynthia-eden/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/blog/happy-release-day-broken-by-cynthia-eden/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 06:00:07 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9241Broken (Lost Series, Bk #1) By Cynthia Eden Blurb: The first novel in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s sizzling LOST series introduces the Last Option Search Team, an elite unit that must protect the only surviving victim of a serial killer. Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in […]

The first novel in New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s sizzling LOST series introduces the Last Option Search Team, an elite unit that must protect the only surviving victim of a serial killer.

Ex-SEAL and LOST founder Gabe Spencer is accustomed to the unusual in his job. But when knockout Eve Gray steps into his office, he’s rattled. For the mysterious woman is a dead ringer for the heiress thought to be the latest prey of the serial killer who goes by the name Lady Killer.

When Eve awoke in an Atlanta hospital, her past was a blank slate. Then she recognized her own face in the newspaper and vowed to learn the truth. Determined to confront the nightmares hidden in her mind, she never expects to find a partner in Gabe.

As Gabe and Eve work together, their explosive attraction becomes irresistible. Gabe knows that his desire for Eve is growing too strong, bordering on a dangerous obsession, but nothing pulls him away from her. And when another Eve lookalike disappears, Gabe vows to protect Eve at all costs. While Eve may have forgotten the killer in her past, it’s clear he hasn’t forgotten her.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

“Do you think I’m a con artist or a victim?”

“I think you’re a woman who has been hurt.” No denying that. “One of my team members, Wade Monroe, is contacting the Montgomery family. We’ll get DNA from them and find out—”

“If I’m Jessica.” There was hope in the words. Enough hope to break his heart.

Gabe nodded.

“When will we know?”

It would take a few days, even with the strings that he could pull. “As soon as possible,” he said, not wanting to give her a specific timetable.

“Thank you.” Then, just like that, she was across the car, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you.”

His arms wrapped around her, an instinctive response. She smelled faintly of flowers, a sweet scent that teased his nose, and her body was soft against his.

She tried to pull away, as if realizing what she’d just done.

For an instant he was tempted to hold her, to keep her close.

She’s a client. Focus.

He let her go, but his body ached.

“I … um … I should get inside.”

Yes, she should. While he was still clutching tight to his control. The control that said he shouldn’t push her. Shouldn’t want her so much. Not when she’d already been hurt so badly.

Her fingers reached for the door.

“Let me,” he said, voice rumbling, and Gabe climbed from the Jag. In seconds he was on the passenger side, opening her door for her. She rose, and her body brushed against his.

He stepped back. Distance. He seriously needed to put some distance between then. But even with some fast steps back, he could still smell that light and sexy scent that clung to her body.

And he still wanted her.

“Your shrink asked me a lot of questions about you,” Eve told him as she stood temptingly close.

Gabe inclined his head. “I’m sure—”

“I think she wanted to know why I respond so much to you.”

Oh, hell, she’d just said … He cleared his throat even as part of his body surged in quick response to her. “It’s a tense situation, you’re—”

“You don’t look at me as if I’m a victim.”

He stopped talking.

“I mean, you know what I am, but you still look at me and seem to just see me … as a woman.”

“Others see you the same way.” Doc Tyler sure did. Bastard.

“It’s different with you,” she murmured as she stepped even closer to him. Her head had tilted back so she could look into his eyes. “I don’t know what I’ve felt for other men before.”

Why did the idea of others have his body knotting with tension?

“But I know that when I see you, I want.” A hushed confession. “I just … I needed to tell you that.”

And he needed to make his self-control a hell of a lot stronger. Her lips were just inches from his, and he wanted her mouth beneath his. Wanted her lips open. Needed to taste her.

“You’re the first man I’ve wanted since I opened my eyes in that hospital.”

He could actually feel his control splintering. Client. Cli—

“You probably don’t want me. I—I might not be your type.”

Now her gaze had fallen, as if in embarrassment. Had she really just asked if she was his type?

She was probably every damn man’s type.

“But you make me feel normal again, so I had to tell you—”

His fingers curved under her chin. “Eve …”

Her smile was a little too big. Too bright. “I don’t think I can handle anything else right now, I’m …” She pulled away. Stumbled onto the sidewalk. “I just wanted to tell you how I felt,” she told him again.

Then she walked into the shelter, her steps hurried. As if she were running.

From him.

He stared after her. She wanted him.

And she was so beyond his reach.

About the Author

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/blog/happy-release-day-broken-by-cynthia-eden/feed/0Blog Tour! SEAL MY HOME by Sharon Hamiltonhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/giveaways/blog-tour-seal-my-home-by-sharon-hamilton/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/giveaways/blog-tour-seal-my-home-by-sharon-hamilton/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 05:00:14 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9243SEAL My Home by Sharon Hamilton Blurb: Bad boy Rory Kennedy was raised in foster care, bouncing in and out of trouble along the way. He finds his true family and real brothers as a Navy SEAL, one of the Navy’s elite warriors. When his BUD/S instructor barked the SEAL’s Motto: Only Easy Day […]

Bad boy Rory Kennedy was raised in foster care, bouncing in and out of trouble along the way. He finds his true family and real brothers as a Navy SEAL, one of the Navy’s elite warriors. When his BUD/S instructor barked the SEAL’s Motto: Only Easy Day Was Yesterday, he knew he had found home.

Megan Palmer works in a bookstore and finds her passion in life through reading steamy romance novels. Her brief affair with a man she later found out was married has left her damaged, until she meets the handsome SEAL, who stands ready to open her world and give her things she’s only dreamed.

On a skiing trip, Rory suffers a possible career-ending injury and also comes face to face with a past he never knew of, and a family who had abandoned him. His relationship with Megan is tested to the breaking point as Rory wades through the dark waters of recovery and whether or not he can live without the life he loves. A home-grown terrorist cell forces his hand and he discovers his true purpose.

Available for purchase at

Excerpt

Whatever she’d bottled up had come loose. Her appetite met her need, which should have scared him. But for the first time, he wanted her to need him. He could fill he up. She was starving for it.

And so was he.

She was sleeping, and he fell into her rhythm, inhaling when she did, exhaling also in tandem, feeling her soft sex crowning his thigh. He thought of all the lovely things he wanted to say to her, but knew he shouldn’t. He knew the speaking part would mess up what he now felt, something he rarely felt.

Happiness.

He tried to breathe without making a sound, hoping that this time together, which was as precious to him as the love making part, was prolonged for as long as possible. She was fire and ice. The salt and the caramel. She tucked inside the hard exterior of his soul and shivered, rested there under his protection.

He must have twitched or done something, because she startled and rose up quickly, rolling to the side and covering herself up. He could almost feel her heavy thoughts tossing about the room as he viewed her light pink spine glowing in the near moonlight as she sat on the edge of the bed away from him. An inch of her butt crack was in shadow, but the alabaster surface of her skin was flawless and made her look like a statue.

He inhaled without a sound, and let his index finger trace down the middle of her back, traveling over the ridges of her vertebra. She stiffened at first, then rolled her head to the side and killed him with the blue gaze that showed him she was still hungry.

“Come here, Megan,” he said, worried he’d been a little too loud.

She touched her shoulder with her ear in a shy move that belied her real feelings for him. He could see it in the coral shaded corners of her lips, how they quirked up at the ends.

Book Trailer

About the Author

NYT and USA/Today Bestselling Author Sharon Hamilton’s SEAL Brotherhood series have earned her Amazon author rankings of #1 in Romantic Suspense, Military Romance and Contemporary Romance. Her characters follow a sometimes rocky road to redemption through passion and true love. Her Golden Vampires of Tuscany earned her a #1 Amazon author ranking in Gothic Romance.

A lifelong organic vegetable and flower gardener, Sharon and her husband live in the Wine Country of Northern California, where most of her stories take place.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/giveaways/blog-tour-seal-my-home-by-sharon-hamilton/feed/0ROCK HARD by Nalini Singhhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/rock-hard-by-nalini-singh/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/rock-hard-by-nalini-singh/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:21:53 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9334I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Rock […]

Charlotte Baird was always very shy, but she was feisty when needed. After a viscous attack in a place that she should have been safe, now she is shy and scared. In fact, Charlotte has nick-named herself “Charlie-Mouse.” Because even the thought of having to interview for a new job can give Charlie hives, she has allowed herself to be taken advantage of at work. Charlie’s normal day at work could get even more interesting, as new CEO is coming, and he is known for taking no prisoners.

Gabriel Bishop was known as “the Bishop” on the rugby field and as one tough competitor. When an injury took Gabriel off the field, he walked into his second love—bringing companies back from the brink of ruin. The challenge of turning a shrinking business around and making it profitable gives Gabriel the same type of rush that racing down the rugby field did. Gabriel is once again stepping in to help an established and world renowned business to take its place back in the world of elite retail shopping.

To say that when Gabriel and Charlie first met it was all but a disaster might not be strong enough. But Gabriel has always used the assets he finds to their best advantage, and Charlotte is definitely an asset for the company. Now, if he can only find a way to bring out the feisty woman he sees in her eyes when they are together instead of the timid and scared mouse, they will be an unbeatable team. Charlie doesn’t care what Gabriel’s nickname might have been before, but she has the perfect one for him now—T-Rex. As the months go by, it’s a fun loving battle between a Charlie-Mouse vs. T-Rex. It’s one that is peppered with passion as respect turns into friendship and that turns into feelings that cannot be denied. When Charlie is once again threatened by a nightmare from her past, Gabriel is going to show just why he was so good on the rugby field, and this is one T-Rex that knows how to protect those he loves.

When a quiet and timid woman with a core of feistiness meets a man known to chew up and spit out incompetents, the outcome is a book you just can’t put down. Charlotte and Gabriel have quite a journey that will encompass everything from a shaky first meeting to friendly workmates to a romance that rocks both of their worlds in Rock Hard. I just can’t tell you how many times I laughed and cheered both Charlie and Gabriel on while I watched their relationship progress. I also really loved the chapter titles that showed up, because then I couldn’t wait to see how the title was reflected in the chapter itself. But mostly, I felt for Gabriel as he helped Charlie regain the parts of herself that had been lost to violence. Charlie’s inner strength and determination will totally have you cheering for her to kick butt on her fears and grasp every element of the love between herself and Gabriel. Rock Hard is a wonderful story about beating the odds with an adorable couple that I just want to hug now that they have it all. Before reading about Gabriel and Charlie, I only wanted to see the rest of the band have their books, now I not only want that, but I also want to see Gabriel’s two single brothers find their happy endings too.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/rock-hard-by-nalini-singh/feed/0COLOUR ME UNDEAD by Mikela Q. Chasehttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/colour-me-undead-by-mikela-q-chase/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/colour-me-undead-by-mikela-q-chase/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:16:23 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9330I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Colour […]

Cora has no designs at becoming the premier wedding planner for the undead, but she also can’t say no when her vampire cousin asks for her help. Though Cora has plenty of experience with paranormals, nothing can prepare her for meeting the vampire king. Basil Bloodthorn is powerful, sexy, and convinced Cora is his mate. Cora’s not as sure as Basil that they’re meant to be, but if she wants to find out she first has to manage to stay alive, for someone else has no intention of letting Cora become the vampire queen.

Colour Me Undead is fast-paced and wonderfully fun. Mikela Q. Chase starts things off on a high note with a sassy heroine who’s not afraid to take her powerful hero down a peg or two. Basil and Cora have a great dynamic and they brought both humor and steam to the story. Unfortunately, a rather one-dimensional villain made the story feel clunky about halfway though. With a bit more fleshing out, Colour Me Undead could have really shined. Ms. Chase’s world has a lot of possibility and I’d dearly love to read a story for Melinda and Alexis, Cora’s cousin and Basil’s brother. All in all, Colour Me Undead is a bright bit of paranormal fun that’ll make you smile.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/colour-me-undead-by-mikela-q-chase/feed/0HAIR OF THE DOG by Kelli Scotthttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hair-of-the-dog-by-kelli-scott/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hair-of-the-dog-by-kelli-scott/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:10:59 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9327I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Hair […]

When Ivy receives a job offer from Grant, the mayor of Mystic Springs, she jumps on it without ever seeing the town. Little does she know it’s not her skills as a hotel manager the people of Mystic Springs are interested in. Ivy’s the woman prophesied to rejuvenate the town’s drying spring, a spring that’s vital to the wellbeing of the Mystic Springs shifters.

Grant Grayson is one of those shifters, but he’s not quite sure he believes there’s a magical woman out there who can save the springs. Then he meets Ivy, and suddenly his protective – and other – instincts roar to life. Now he just has to convince both himself and Ivy that a relationship between them could work before the townsfolk decide to take matters into their own hands.

Hair of the Dog is a story with a lot of potential. Grant is a sexy as hell wolf shifter and an honorable man who is also a widower still grieving the death of his wife. He’s easy to love and it’s no wonder Ivy is drawn to him from the moment they meet. Ivy is a woman with no knowledge of magic and she’s prone to blackouts and fits of abandon she doesn’t understand. All these things are the starting point of a good story, but unfortunately Ivy and Grant go from zero to sixty halfway through the story and character development is cast aside for sex and a love story that sprung up a bit too unbelievably. Had Grant’s grief – so potent in the first part of the book – not been turned off like a light switch and had Ivy’s awareness of her magical nature been dealt with better I would have liked the story so much more.

Kelli Scott’s world of Mystic Springs is imaginative and there are a lot of elements to the story that are incredibly interesting and could have made the book a stellar read if they were fleshed out. The townspeople are all a bit one-note and it’s not a joy to say that two of the three major supporting characters are unpleasant (to put it kindly). It makes me wonder why anyone would want to stay in the town. While Hair of the Dog missed the mark for me, I did really like a lot of the elements to the story and I definitely want to read some of Ms. Scott’s other work.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hair-of-the-dog-by-kelli-scott/feed/0BEAUTY BITES by Mary Hugheshttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/beauty-bites-by-mary-hughes/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/beauty-bites-by-mary-hughes/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:07:16 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9324I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Beauty […]

Synnove Byornsson is a woman on a mission. She’s a doctor who wants people to focus on her brain, not her looks, but she’s afraid she might have to use both in order to get Ric Holiday’s attention. Synnove’s cousin, Twyla, insists that Ric is the only ad man up for the job of saving their town of Meiers Corners. There’s just two problems: (1) Ric won’t help and (2) Synnove has some serious competition from a woman who wants to destroy everything Meiers Corners represents.

Vampire Ric Holiday wants nothing to do with any town near Chicago, the home of the vampire who turned him as a child. But Synnove is a hard woman to turn down, particularly since she’s immune to his vampire capabilities. It’s not long before the brainy beauty has him tied up in knots. To be with Synnove, Ric will have to face his past, embrace the future, and join forces with Synnove to outwit a powerful vampire capable of destroying them both.

Beauty Bites has both style and substance. Mary Hughes’s trademark zany humor combines wonderfully with a story about beauty that’s more than skin deep.

Synnove is a drop-dead gorgeous doctor whose looks are the bane of her existence. People don’t take her seriously, even though she’s incredibly intelligent and has a deep desire to heal people. I liked watching Synnove come into her own over the course of the book. Ric, a vampire who deals in show and style, is one of the few people who sees the real Synnove. I really enjoyed peeling back Ric’s layers as we saw through flashbacks how he became the man he is today. He and Synnove make a good couple; their solid chemistry makes it easy to root for them to find happiness.

Beauty Bites is the sixth book in the Biting Love series, but it can be read as a standalone. That being said, we do get to catch up with Bo and Elena (of Bite My Fire), which was a lot of fun. Synnove’s cousin Twyla and her vampire lover Nikos (of The Bite of Silence) are also strong supporting characters, and I loved that Ms. Hughes showed us the progression in their relationship. While familiar faces are sure to delight fans, new Biting Love character Aiden (Ric’s best friend) stole a lot of the scenes he was in and I can’t wait to read his story.

What separates Beauty Bites from a lot of the other Biting Love books is that it takes place outside Meiers Corners. I admit, I missed the zany little town. The quirkiness of Beauty Bites didn’t fit quite as well in Minneapolis, perhaps this is because the slapstick humor came mostly from the main characters rather than their surrounding environment. Still, Beauty Bites is a solid installment to the Biting Love series and I finished it eager to read the next book, Downbeat.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/beauty-bites-by-mary-hughes/feed/0FOUR NIGHTS WITH THE DUKE by Eloisa Jameshttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/four-nights-with-the-duke-by-eloisa-james/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/four-nights-with-the-duke-by-eloisa-james/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:02:55 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9320I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Four […]

At fifteen, a heartbroken, embarrassed Mia Carrington swore she’d never marry Evander Brody. At twenty-eight, Mia has no choice but to take back her words. In order to secure guardianship of her nephew and thus protect him from his evil uncle, Mia must marry – fast. Having just been jilted at the altar, she’s desperate enough to blackmail the long ago object of her affections.

Vander can’t believe Mia’s audacious proposal – or her blackmail scheme. Against all better judgment, he agrees to marry Mia, but with a condition of his own: he’ll only bed her for four nights a year, and only if she begs for it. But when Vander learns there’s more to Mia than meets the eye, he knows he’s made a mistake. Because four nights with Mia will never be enough when he’s rapidly falling in love with his new wife.

Four Nights with the Duke is a fast-paced, addictive read filled with lively, interesting, strong-willed characters. Author Eloisa James knows how to capture your interest and not let go, and I found myself unable to put Mia and Vander’s book down.

I absolutely adored Mia. She has a big heart and is protective of those she cares about. Mia’s been hurt over and over, but though she has insecurities because of it, she remains a strong, resilient woman. I wanted to see Vander fall head over heels in love with her, because they fit together so well. Vander inadvertently hurt Mia in the past, and he makes plenty of mistakes with her in the present. Vander’s got hidden scars of his own that have given him a distorted view of what love and marriage would mean for him. He’s flawed, realistically so, and doesn’t always choose his words wisely. I actually liked that about him, because he grows over the course of the story and realizes what a treasure Mia is.

Aside from the romance, we get to see Mia and Vander’s other passions. Vander’s for buying, breeding, and racing horses and Mia’s for writing. Mia’s work as a writer of popular romances was particularly fun to read about, and watching her struggle with writing her latest gothic romance was delightful. Historical romance fans will also surely delight in the nods to authors Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas that are sprinkled throughout Four Nights with the Duke.

Four Nights with the Duke is the eighth book in the Desperate Duchesses series and the second book in the spinoff Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers series. Though Mia and Vander’s story can easily be read as a standalone, it was a treat to see Thorn and India (of Three Weeks with Lady X) and Villiers (of A Duke of Her Own) again. But the most captivating secondary characters are those new to the series, namely Mia’s spirited young nephew Charlie and Vander’s cheerful, often-drunk uncle, Chuffy (a nod to Twelfth Night’s Sir Toby Belch). Charlie and Chuffy bring a sprightliness to Four Nights with the Duke that I loved.

Ms. James’s stories are always wonderfully entertaining and Four Nights with the Duke was no exception. I devoured the book in one sitting and I cannot wait to read the next Desperate Duchesses story, Seven Minutes in Heaven!

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/four-nights-with-the-duke-by-eloisa-james/feed/0THE WARLORD’S WIFE by Sandra Lakehttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/the-warlords-wife-by-sandra-lake/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/the-warlords-wife-by-sandra-lake/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 03:52:00 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9316I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.The […]

Independent Lida is used to fending for herself. When her husband, the love of her life, died he left her with a gift. Unfortunately, his family called her a whore when they discovered her pregnancy and sent her packing. Now she has a beautiful daughter and lives with her family.

Jarl Magnus is a celebrated Warlord looking for a sturdy wife to bear his sons. He makes an offer to wed Lida and expects no objection. He was sorely mistaken. After much deliberation Lida agrees to marry him. He doesn’t understand why Lida isn’t content to be his wife and wallow in his riches.

Lida and Magnus have no trouble in the bedroom but if they don’t learn to communicate outside the bedroom their marriage is doomed. Danger lurks on the horizon. Will they learn to communicate before it’s too late?

Author Sandra Lake’s debut novel The Warlord’s Wife is a gem! I had such a wonderful time reading this novel. I even finished it in one sitting. Lida has been dealt a rough set of circumstances. She isn’t keen to be under someone’s thumb. But Magnus makes a deal she cannot refuse. At some points both Lida and Magnus aggravated me because they are so darn stubborn. For two people that are so hot in the bedroom they should be able to talk outside it for five minutes without making each other mad.

Poor Magnus! While his male chauvinist side rubbed me the wrong way at times I felt bad for him as well. He could not figure out Lida’s mind but he really wanted to. There are some really funny moments in the story as well. Ms. Lake has created multi-layered loveable characters. I could not get enough of Lida’s daughter Katia and how Magnus was with her. Magnus and Katia’s relationship was adorable.

The Warlord’s Wife has it all; a feisty couple, cute kids, bad guys and an outstanding plot. When Magnus and Lida begin working together as a team they cannot be defeated. I loved taking the journey to happily ever after with them! I look forward to the next book in the series, The Iron Princess.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/the-warlords-wife-by-sandra-lake/feed/0HOT AND BOTHERED by Crystal Greenhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hot-and-bothered-by-crystal-green/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hot-and-bothered-by-crystal-green/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 03:44:51 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9313I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Hot […]

Rochelle Burton is a successful author with a stalker. She is headed to her home town, outside of Las Vegas for her latest book tour and needs a bodyguard. It just so happens that her ex is a professional bullet catcher. Rochelle isn’t all that excited to be contacting her ex to be her bodyguard. After all the last time they saw each other he took her virginity and she snuck out of bed and right out of town.

Gideon Lane has shared his bed with many women since Rochelle but none compared to her. He is shocked when she asks for his help. There is no way he could turn her down especially after seeing the woman she has grown up to be. Gideon has no problem keeping her safe from her stalker but who will protect her from him?

Rochelle and Gideon are determined to keep things professional but some things are just plain impossible. Will they rekindle their love or will a tryst get things out of their system?

Rochelle and Gideon have great chemistry in Hot and Bothered. Unfortunately, their lengthy internal monologues got on my nerves. The lead up to them having sex was hot but after things fizzled for me. The stalker story wasn’t as suspenseful as I would have liked. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first two books in the series and knew all of the secondary characters. There are definitely some colorful characters that reside at the Rough & Tumble but I couldn’t get into them.

]]>http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/hot-and-bothered-by-crystal-green/feed/0RISKIER BUSINESS by Tessa Baileyhttp://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/riskier-business-by-tessa-bailey/
http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/reviewparent/riskier-business-by-tessa-bailey/#commentsTue, 31 Mar 2015 03:10:08 +0000http://www.joyfullyreviewed.net/?p=9308I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Source: Publisher This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.Riskier […]

Ruby Elliott is finally on the right track and more importantly happy. She has left her life as a con and pool shark behind for the sexy NYPD Detective Troy Bennett. For Ruby and Troy it was lust at first sight. It may have seemed like a match made in hell in the beginning but in the end they fit together perfectly like two matching puzzle pieces.

Their happiness is about to be tested. Ruby and Troy face the return of her father. The man that taught her how to cheat and steal for a living is back with an offer she cannot refuse. If Ruby plays one last game and wins her father will tell her the identity of the mother she’s never known. This drives a wedge between Ruby and Troy because he doesn’t want her to have anything to do with her father. However, Ruby can’t let this chance pass her by and Troy sees that as her not trusting him. Will Ruby and Troy let the test drive them apart or bring them closer than ever?

We last saw Ruby and Troy in His Risk to Take from Ms. Bailey’s Line of Duty novels. Unfortunately, their HEA didn’t last very long which I makes sense because there was a lot from Ruby’s past left unresolved. Ruby has spent most of her life conning people out of their money with her father. When her father walks back into her life asking for a favor Ruby is conflicted but resolved. Ruby and Troy are a couple with staying power and it’s a good thing because they are being pushed to their limits in Riskier Business.

Ruby is still tough as nails but I like seeing her lean on Troy a bit. They still sizzle in and out of the bedroom but its the emotional scenes that stick out. I look forward to reading more in Bailey’s new Crossing the Line series.